Ahmedabad Police was not at high alert on day of serial blasts: Min

Jaipur, Aug 19 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmed today remained non-committal over the progress of ongoing investigations in serial blasts in Jaipur and Ahmedabad but held that despite the Centre's advisory and serial blasts in Bangalore, policing in the Gujarat capital was inadequate on the fateful day.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Ahmed said the Union Home Secretary had sent advisory to states including Gujarat and, moreover, a nationwide high alert was sounded after serial blasts in Bangalore, even then policing was not on due alert in Ahmedabad the next day itself.

On the ongoing investigations in serial blasts, Mr Ahmed remained non-committal and said the investigating agencies should make flawless and strong cases against the culprits and ensure their conviction.

He denied charges of union government's laxity in revocation of ban on SIMI and said that the government ensured that the ban was reimposed on the outfit by the Supreme Court within 24 hours.

He also reiterated the need of setting up of a central investigation agency to prevent in serious organised crimes including anti-national activities, terror violence, money laundering and smuggling.

He said Chief Minister of some states were against the move and the Centre was trying to persuade them and build national consensus over the issue.

The Minister said three to four rounds of meetings with states had already been held and the efforts were going on.

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